Why I Built Staks: Open-Source Email Infrastructure for Developers
I'm launching, Staks, an open-source email infrastructure platform built specifically for developers in emerging markets.
The Problem
Email infrastructure is broken for developers outside the US.
Sendgrid charges $300k+/year for enterprise plans. Mailgun costs $90/month for 100,000 emails. For developers in India, Brazil, Nigeria, and other emerging markets, this is simply not affordable.
I've been there. I've watched talented developers build amazing products but struggle to send transactional emails (password resets, order confirmations, etc.) because the infrastructure costs are prohibitive.
The Solution: Staks
$50/month for UNLIMITED emails.
No per-email charges. No surprises. No hidden fees.
Key Features:
- 99.9% uptime SLA- Your emails get delivered
- Simple REST API- Integrate in minutes
- Email templates- Pre-built templates for common use cases
- Real-time analytics- Track opens, clicks, deliveries
- Open-source - Self-host or use managed
- Developer-first - Built by developers, for developers
Why Open-Source?
Transparency matters. Developers want to know how their email is being sent. With Staks, you can:
- Audit the code
- Self-host if you want
- Contribute improvements
- Build on top of it
The Market
There are 500,000+ developers in emerging markets who need affordable email infrastructure. They're building SaaS products, e-commerce platforms, and fintech apps. They deserve infrastructure that doesn't cost a fortune.
We're in Beta
I'm looking for early users to help shape Staks. If you're interested:
- Sign up for beta:https://staks.dev
- Check out the code: https://github.com/edbarki77-arch/Staks-core
- Share feedback: Reply in the comments
What's Next?
- Week 1: Validation (getting early users)
- Week 2-3: MVP (building the core product)
- Week 4: Beta launch (first paying customers)
I'll be documenting the entire journey here on Dev.to. Follow me for updates!
Questions? Ask in the comments below!